The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-14
POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL.
TEXT OF SENATOR CULLoM's MEAS
uRE INTRODUCED YESTERDAY.
Il Provides for an Immediate Survey
for the Line Routes and the Appro-
priation OF %. ooo. 900 for the Pre-
Iin.inary work-Other Bills.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The postal tel
epraph bill introduced by Senator Cullom
today establishes the "unitcd States Postal
Telegraph" as part of the postal
system Of the United States, and, for
the purpose Of inaugunting the sys-
TEN, provides that the following telegraph
trunk lines shall first be constructed:
One from Washington, ID. c., TO Port
land, Me-, via Baltimore, Wilmington,
Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, Newark,
Jersey City. New York, Brooklyn, New
Haven, Hartford, Providence and Boston
one from Washington 10 Minneapolis, via
Iit,sburg Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago,
Milwaukee, Madison, Lacrosse and st.
Paul one from New York to Cleveland,
via Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester,
Bufialo aud Erie, Pa; one from Pittsburg
TO Topeka, Has, via Columbus, Cincin-
natl, Indianapolis, St Louis and Kansas
City. and minor towns near the large cities;
one from Toledo 10 Detroit, one from
Washington TO Galveston, via Richmond,
Charlotte, Columbia, ;. c., Augusta, At
lanta, Montgomery and New Orleans; one
from Chicago TO New Orleans, via Indian
apolis. Louisville, Nashville. Memphis and
Nicksburg; one from Chicago TO 81 Louis,
via Peoria and Springfield; one
from Chicago to san Francisco,
via Dcs Moines, Omaha, Cheyenne,
Salt Lake City, Carson City and other
towns cn route, and one from Cheyenne
to Denver Postal telegraph offices are 10
he opened ut the places named and AZ all
intermediate points nj which first, second
ar third class postoiiiccs are established.
Branch lines, II provides, shall be con-
sirucicd from time 10 time, ~ apprupria-
tons therefor are made by Congress, the
intention being 20 connect the lines with
all cities where the postal free delivery
system prevails, but no additional facilities
are 10 be- provided In States already con
nccted with the trunk lines until postal
telegraph offices have been established IN
every state and Territory. The system is
10 he constructed in straight lines ~ near
~ practicable, but regard is 10 he taken Of
cities that will afford the best Geographic
facilities To the public.
The lines ap to be constructed by the
engineer corps Of the army and then trans
fcrrcd 90 the custody OF the Postmaster
General. The poles are TO be OF mon. the
wins OF copper and all other materials oi
the best character. Eight wires are 10 he
strung on the line from New York Ia Chi
cage and four upon other lines. The See
rotary Oi War is authorized 10 use the mill
iary service lines oi the United States ~
Ear m eNpcdicnt and also 10 make all nee
cssiry condcmnations Of lands or buildings
ut fair compensation. An disputes ~ TO
what Is a fair compensation are a. he sct.
He'd by the court OF claims. The Secretary
j. further authorized 10 construct, take aud
Iisc all machinery and devices, not includ-
ing Telegraph lines, whether patented or
not, ns shall be deemed necessary, the
compensation 10 be- determined in the
same manner as condCmnations Of land.
The suns ui money necessary Tor this pur-
pose arr appropriated by the Hill. A rate
81 10 cents for each twenty words aud
cents ior each additional ten words il fixed
ior distances under 800 miles and an add
iiunal rate 81 iccnts for cnch 30 miles over
aap. 4 night rate oi - cents aud day rate
al ~ cents is fixed for each 100 words
transmitted for newspaper, except that
WHERE the Nimc dispatch IL dropped of at
morc than one office, the rates shall De- -
and ~ cents respectively for each dropped
copy. The office of director general OF
tclcgraphs j. GRATED as part Of the post
office department. II II made the duty ui
the Postmaster General To report to Con
grcss. after the passage ol the act, u plan
Tor the complete organization oi the postal
telegraph system, With detailed estimates
at men and money NEEDED. Bciorc the
system h put into operation aud employees
selected. examinations are Ia bc held hy
the civil service commission 20 determine
the fitness oi applicants
-Four million dollars il appropriated foi
the location and construction Of the iclc
graph lines provided ior 10y the act.
ANgNpENrs TO TuE INTERSTATE ACT.
The hill introduced by senator Cullou
today to amend the interstate commcUt
net cmbodics the most important sug
gcstions that have been made Tor the cor
pci.on ol defects in the law, including III,
recommendations OF the commissioners
The amendments arr NOluminons aud ir
minute legal ioun. The following il
SYNOPSIS Oi their morc important pro
VISIONS
l. To- extend the provisions Of the net NJ
ns 10 make the act apply 10 express, sleep
ing car, duwingroom car, palace car
stock car aud tank ear companies and AN,
other companies, associations or person.
furnishing Tor public Use railroad ear
and other insirumcnialitirs for the trans
IortaiiOn oi persons or property.
. The wOfls "Or other carriers" are IN
tNdcd tNirc In the fifth section, NJ NJ 4
prohibit not only pooling between dillor
cnt railroads, but between different rail
roads and other ,auier.
3. In thc sixth section. which relates 1
the publication of rates, the provision
with respect to the advance and reduction
in rates ura WpUticd Eo ~ Ia apply spccit
cally to joint through rates. The shnr
haul provision h nlsp repealed In order thi
them shall be- no question that II also ~
plies 10 joint through rates.
4. A 90 the SHORTHAND provision, II
provided that where complaint ~ mad
against two Or morn carriers for violntir
u, and the violations occur between poiu
On the ruai ot one only, that road Onl
shall We held liable cor the violation.
.. The commission is authorized io pr
scribc The form IN which the schedule pr
sculcd 10y The law for public insp,ctic
shall he prepared or arranged. No spcci
form h prescribed IN The law.
q. The commission is also authorized
make provision tur the official publicaiIl
oi Is decision
7. An addition 30 Section W, which
htes 90 compensation Tor damages, h ~
posed. 30 the effect that when cor
plainant b seeking 90 pcoycr damar
ihc carrier may Gle with the commis.i
iis consent tlmt the commission may ~
on the question Of damages, aud IN su
case the carrier shall be- bound by the Il
cisiOn OF The commission, aud the drcisi
Of the commission shall stand ~ a iut
ment, which may b. enforced by exec
ton 10y United States man halls In ihe sar